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How do I find the right workout for me?


If you are into fitness or are thinking of starting a fitness routine, one of the questions you probably are always asking yourself is, "what is the right workout for me?" or another way to put it, "what should I do for my workout today?!".

I know for me, that was the question that I was always thinking about when I started my journey into personal training.

And to confess to you, I was not very good at answering it. Or better said, I thought I needed to do everything.

When I initially got started, I was overwhelmed by the amount of information I read in books and saw online, as well as the many "tips" I needed to keep in check so that I could be "fit" (whatever that meant).

I got injured a lot because I tried too many things too fast, or I over-trained, or I would perform the wrong movements, or I was simply being stupid about my goals.

So, I want to layout for you a few of the lessons I learned along the way that might help you as you travel on your own fitness journey:

1) Keep it simple & build up

Unless you are preparing for the Olympics or have really specific goals (in which case you definitely want to have coaches to help you!), the basics are your friends.

The basic exercises are probably the best tools you can use to workout most of your body, and more often than not, you won't need to have a lot of equipment to do them.

If you divide your body into three - Upper, Core, and Legs - you can craft a set of exercises for each section that you can rotate and repeat every week.

Start out with maybe two or three different exercises for each section that you can start doing and slowly learn what works for your body (keep a journal!).

For example:

- Upper (Tuesdays/Fridays): Push-ups, pull-ups, lateral raises

- Core (Mondays/Wednesday/Sundays): Planks, bicycles, crunches

- Legs (Thursdays/Saturdays): Lunges, squats, calf-raises

Learn to really appreciate the basics and you will gain an understanding of your body at your own pace, which is the best pace. This will help you progress with greater safety (always think safety first!) and give you greater depth of information about your own body.

One book I use for ideas is Mark Lauren's "You Are Your Own Gym", but the internet has tons of ideas now that you can look up instantly and can help you craft your own method (again, keep a journal!).

Go at your own pace, research your workouts, and try to not over-exert. Fitness is like compound interest: You do a little each day, but when you see it a year later, the little steps will have compounded into something you could not even imagine. You just gotta be consistent!

2) Cross-training is the bomb

When I started, one of my initial failures was thinking that I had to do a specific workout very intensely and all the time because that was supposed to be the best workout for a specific part of my body. This led me to getting injured (a lot).

Now, I love switching the types of workouts I do. I like to run (cardio), do strength training, incorporate different types of conditioning, practice my martial arts, always think about stretching (always!), include some coordination, etc.

Especially as I get older, I realize how good it is for the body to be exposed to different types of movements under different circumstances. It not only helps my muscles "wake up" and "get outside their comfort zone", but it also mentally helps me create new connections and learn how my body is changing (looking at gaps) so that I can change, adapt, and grow.

Variety helps keep you on your feet, makes you stronger and more resilient, and gives your mind a little something extra to keep it healthy.

So be a little adventurous and try different things: Swimming, rock-climbing, surfing, skating, bicycle, and so many more!

3) Have fun!

Finally, although not every workout is going to be a party to celebrate, you should definitely have fun the majority of the time.

Exercising should be fun and exciting!

When I think about going to workout, I think about three things:

(a) how good it will for my body after I am done (I am taking responsibility for my health)

(b) how good it will be for my family that I am trying to keep myself healthy (financially, physically, and emotionally)

(c) as a time for me to relax and not think about anything else (decompress time!)

Find your purpose for exercising and that will help you understand why you are doing it and take ownership over your actions (and what type of exercise you want to do!).

I have found that when I take ownership over my actions, life becomes much more simpler and fun.

What other tips do you have for exercising that have helped you develop or craft a routine in your life?

Leave a comment down below - I would love to hear from you!

Trust the process. Live the commitment

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